I am a bit late doing this review but hopefully it helps others out in their board decisions this year.

I ride in the Northwest, primarily Baker, Schweitzer (Sandpoint), and 49 degrees north. This year I will be taking it on my trips to park city, keystone, red, white fish, big sky, and bridger.

That being said I mostly ride pow and trees with some groomed runs just to get to the lift and a bit of park.

I am sure everyone knows what TBT is and how it works, if not just look it up on youtube for 3 videos explaining it.

In the POWWWWWW:
Being regular camber, and previously riding a first gen skate banana, I expected to sink straight in or nose dive. Luckily, with just the slightest lean I was floating perfectly, I didn't feel a huge difference in float from my lib, and I think the lifted edges made this possible because I could carve side to side with ease. The base held up well jibbin off little trees and what not no scratches (I am also a religious waxer).

On the groomers:
Let me start by saying....I F**KING HATE CAT TRACKS....ok with that out of the way let me now say....I DONT MIND CAT TRACKS AS MUCH....with the tbt I didn't feel like i had to work as hard for that toe edge to stay in the center of the track so thats a plus, no more sore calves for me. Going down steep groomers it did fine, if you plan on doing this though definitely sharpen up your edges a bit just so its more responsive once you find the edge.

In the park:
Well, for a new park rider this would do fine, but personally I would prefer a bit more flex in the board especially with my boot and binding set up. It was too stiff and i had to put some UMPH into presses, but I don't ride the park much, however I do FILM a lot in the park and the TBT made it a lot easier to do that I found just rocking from side to side with ease made the film a lot smoother.

Overall/TLDR:
If you are all mountain/tree rider this board will do awesome for you and the TBT really is amazing

If you are a park rider get a softer model (Airobic, disaster, funkink)

extra0

12-27-2012 09:10 PM

I've got the standard ET (softer than the artist edition) and even it's stiff for most jibby park stuff.

as much as I love TBT, if most of what you ride is really steep groomers (and/or ice), I wouldn't recommend it. You really want the most effective edge touching the surface all at once for that...or skis (2 boards w/ tons of really sharp effective edge)

I've got the standard ET (softer than the artist edition) and even it's stiff for most jibby park stuff.

Nonsense, standard Evil Twin and Artist Edition are exactly the same stiffness (and other specs) - only the graphics are different.

extra0

12-28-2012 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hktrdr
(Post 558078)

Nonsense, standard Evil Twin and Artist Edition are exactly the same stiffness (and other specs) - only the graphics are different.

wrong.

According to the 2012 Bataleon catalog, the standard ET was a stiffness 6-7-6, but the ET artist edition was a stiffness of 5-6-5 (flex ratings were flipped that year, so a 6 was softer than a 5)

hktrdr

12-29-2012 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extra0
(Post 558416)

wrong.

According to the 2012 Bataleon catalog, the standard ET was a stiffness 6-7-6, but the ET artist edition was a stiffness of 5-6-5 (flex ratings were flipped that year, so a 6 was softer than a 5)

Thanks, I stand corrected. Thought I had seen the same flex ratings for both editions. Maybe it was a different year.

G Steezy

01-08-2013 01:58 PM

1 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by extra0
(Post 558416)

wrong.

According to the 2012 Bataleon catalog, the standard ET was a stiffness 6-7-6, but the ET artist edition was a stiffness of 5-6-5 (flex ratings were flipped that year, so a 6 was softer than a 5)

Agree. I've rocked a 151 Evil Twin since '08 (Ltd. Edition Smiley) and, regardless of both these boards' specific stiffness rating, I think it's safe to say that it is WAY stiffer than any park rider would like.
As primarily a park/urban jibber myself, I was literally shaking whenever I tried to press this board.
Recently bought a new board (149/softer rating/reverse camber) and the first press I did sent me into a tumble. I wasn't expecting it! Comparatively speaking, though this board gives you great control and stability, but as a board marketed to freestyle riders, it lacks the flex that is oh-so-essential.
Great pop tho.